Palace of the Popes hosts Relatum until 15 November
Published on 10/18/2026 at 08:37 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
The Palace of the Popes in Avignon is hosting Relatum: Lee Ufan from 3 July to 15 November 2026, bringing a contemporary art installation into one of France's major medieval monuments. The exhibition remains on view during the final weeks of its scheduled run, giving visitors a current reason to include the historic site in an autumn itinerary.
Relatum remains at the Palace of the Popes until 15 November
The exhibition is organised with the City of Avignon and presents the work of Lee Ufan, an artist associated with international contemporary art. The official programme lists the exhibition at the Palace of the Popes from 3 July to 15 November 2026, with the monument named as its venue in Avignon. The official exhibition programme also sets out activities around the display in October and November.
The installation includes a monumental work in the Great Chapel, three creations made specially for the monument and paintings shown in the Grand Tinel. That arrangement makes the building part of the exhibition experience rather than a separate backdrop: visitors encounter Lee Ufan's work in spaces shaped by the Palace's religious and courtly history.
Lee Ufan's installation enters a fourteenth-century palace
The Palace of the Popes stands in Avignon's historic centre, on the banks of the Rhone in southern France. UNESCO describes the wider historic centre as a medieval ensemble that includes the papal palace, the episcopal complex and Avignon Bridge. The site is recognised as a World Heritage property, and the UNESCO description of Avignon identifies the palace as a Gothic fortress decorated with fourteenth-century painted work.
The building comprises the Palais Vieux, or Old Palace, and the Palais Neuf, or New Palace. The northern section was built under Benedict XII, while the southern expansion followed under Clement VI. This division gives the Relatum presentation a specific architectural setting: the Great Chapel and Grand Tinel belong to a complex developed as the papal seat in the fourteenth century.
What the exhibition changes for an autumn visit
The current programme gives the Palace of the Popes a temporary contemporary-art focus while preserving access to the monument as a historic site. The operator also warns that some rooms can close temporarily for events; on 15 and 16 October, the Grand Audience was listed as closed all day, while the High Kitchen was due to close from 5pm on 17 October. Those notices concern past dates, so the practical point for later visits is to check the current access information before travelling.
Visiting Palace of the Popes: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Relatum: Lee Ufan is scheduled at the Palace of the Popes from 3 July to 15 November 2026, at Place du Palais in Avignon.
- The exhibition is presented inside the monument, including the Great Chapel and Grand Tinel. Temporary room closures can occur during events, so access to every named space is not guaranteed on every date.
- The Palace stands in Avignon's historic centre at Place du Palais, within the UNESCO-listed ensemble that also includes the episcopal complex and Avignon Bridge.
- The visit involves numerous steps. The operator states that the monument is not accessible to people with reduced mobility because of the large number of stairs.
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Frequently asked questions about Palace of the Popes
When does Relatum take place at the Palace of the Popes?
Relatum: Lee Ufan is scheduled from 3 July to 15 November 2026 at the Palace of the Popes in Avignon.
What is the Palace of the Popes?
It is a Gothic papal palace in Avignon's historic centre, developed as the seat of the papacy in the fourteenth century and included in the city's UNESCO World Heritage property.
Where is the Palace of the Popes and how do you get there?
The monument is at Place du Palais in Avignon, within the city's historic centre. The exhibition programme identifies Place du Palais as the venue for Relatum: Lee Ufan.
